Slot machine with symbol detection feature

ABSTRACT

With a slot machine, a reel band is wound around a reel and the reel band has plural tabs along a side edge thereof. Each of the tabs has a barcode. A symbol position on a display window is detected by reading the barcode with a barcode reader when spinning of the reel has stopped. And then, it is determined whether or not a winning combination is achieved. Therefore, a symbol position can be detected reliably when the reel has stopped. Furthermore, since the barcode is provided on a side surface of the reel, an installing position of the barcode reader can be arranged flexibly.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is based upon and claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/960,836, filed on Oct. 16, 2007; the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference for all purposes.

This application is related to co-pending U.S. Non-Provisional patent application Ser. No. 11/932,289, entitled “SLOT MACHINE WITH SYMBOL DETECTION FEATURE”, filed on Oct. 31, 2007, which is assigned to the assignee of the present invention. The teaching of the co-pending application is incorporated herein by reference to the extent they do not conflict with the teaching herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a slot machine for playing games using game media such as coins, bills and so on.

2. Description of Related Art

U.S. Pat. No. 4,138,114 discloses, a slot machine which executes unit games (slot games) by spinning and stopping a plurality of reels having symbols drawn on respective peripheries.

With slot machines having reels represented by the above-mentioned slot machine, alignment sequence and images of the symbols on a reel can be easily changed by exchanging a reel band having symbols with new alignment sequence and images on its surface.

Here, in a slot machine having reels, it is determined whether or not to award a payout according to the symbol combination as an outcome of the unit game (slot game), in which the spinning reels are stopped and then the stopped symbols are visible through display windows. Therefore, it is necessary to detect the symbol visible through the display window for each reel after the spinning reels has been stopped.

With regard to such detection of symbols, above-mentioned U.S. Pat. No. 4,138,114 discloses a binary code marking which is drawn on each reel together with a symbol to detect the symbol.

Therefore, it is necessary to attach the reel band on the reel with a high precision so that the marking position of the reel will not be in misalignment with the symbol position of the reel band, when changing alignment sequence and images of the symbols on each reel by exchanging the above-mentioned reel band with the slot machine disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,138,114.

If the attaching precision of the reel band on the reel is low, the symbol detected by reading the binary code marking after stopping the reel will not match the symbol which is actually displayed on the display window. Such un-match may lead to awarding a wrong payout which should not be awarded, or missing a payout which should be awarded.

However, attaching a reel band on the reel with a high precision is unrealistic because it requires a highly trained skill.

In addition, U.S. Pat. No. 4,074,258 discloses an apparatus for detecting the position of a movable member. In this apparatus, mutually different identification marks are provided along the movement direction of the movable member at intervals on a belt-shaped scale attached to the movable member. The identification marks are optically read during the movement of the movable member and the position of the movable member is detected based on the read identification marks.

However, the prior art disclosed in the above-mentioned U.S. Pat. No. 4,074,258 detects the position of the belt-shaped scale after moving itself, which has nothing to do with detecting symbols drawn on a reel band.

Furthermore, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-803, Laid-Open No. 6-170033, and Laid-Open No. 2006-187529 disclose a slot machine comprising a reel having a reel band attached on its periphery, the reel band having symbols on its outer circumferential surface and barcodes corresponding to the symbols on its inner circumferential surface.

In addition, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6-246032 and Japanese Patent No. 2772455 (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6-277328) disclose a slot machine having code marks, which represent symbols, on an outer or inner circumferential surface of a reel band.

Furthermore, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-35200 discloses a slot machine having a magnetic tape attached on an inner circumferential surface of a reel band, the magnetic tape including information about symbols on outer circumferential surface of the reel band.

The prior arts disclosed in each of these are all intended to merely check a symbol combination displayed on display windows of a slot machine after reels has stopped, based on a result of reading barcodes (code marks or magnetic tape), which are associated with symbols, on reel bands.

In other words, the prior arts disclosed in each of these do not provide an effective countermeasure to prevent a fraudulent payout when a player fraudulently moves stopped reels to align a winning combination on display windows.

Therefore, a slot machine, which is capable of precisely detecting a symbol(s) displayed on a display window(s) after reel(s) has stopped, has been desired.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a slot machine which executes a game using a reel having symbols on its circumferential periphery and can improve the precision of symbol detection when the reel comes to a stop.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A first aspect of the present invention provides a slot machine which comprises: a cabinet; at least one reel capable of being spun and stopped and having a circumferential periphery and a side surface perpendicular to the circumferential periphery; a base frame installed within the cabinet for supporting the reel rotatably; a reel band having a longitudinal band on which plural symbols are drawn and plural tabs on each of which an identification data corresponding to each of the symbols is recorded; a display window provided on a front face of the cabinet for displaying at least one of the symbols; a data reader provided on the base frame with opposing to the tabs on the side surface for reading the identification data; and a controller. The longitudinal band is wound around the circumferential periphery of the reel and each of the tabs is bent onto the side surface to be attached thereon. The controller is operable to: (a) execute a unit game in which the reel is spun and then stopped, (b) read the identification data by the data reader when the reel has stopped, and (c) determine an outcome of the unit game based on the identification data read in (b) A second aspect of the present invention provides a slot machine which comprises: a cabinet; at least one reel capable of being spun and stopped and having a circumferential periphery and a side surface perpendicular to the circumferential periphery; a base frame installed within the cabinet for supporting the reel rotatably; a reel band having a longitudinal band on which plural symbols are drawn and plural tabs on each of which an barcode data corresponding to each of the symbols is recorded; a display window provided on a front face of the cabinet for displaying at least one of the symbols; a data reader provided on the base frame with opposing to the tabs on the side surface for reading the barcode data; and a controller. The longitudinal band is wound around the circumferential periphery of the reel and each of the tabs is bent onto the side surface to be attached thereon. The controller is operable to: (a) execute a unit game in which the reel is spun and then stopped, (b) read the barcode data by the data reader when the reel has stopped, and (c) determine an outcome of the unit game based on the barcode data read in (b).

A third aspect of the present invention provides a slot machine which comprises: a cabinet; at least one reel capable of being spun and stopped and having a circumferential periphery and a side surface perpendicular to the circumferential periphery; a base frame installed within the cabinet for supporting the reel rotatably; a reel band having a longitudinal band on which plural symbols are drawn and plural tabs on each of which an identification data corresponding to each of the symbols is recorded; a display window provided on a front face of the cabinet for displaying at least one of the symbols; a data reader provided on the base frame with opposing to the tabs on the side surface for reading the identification data; and a controller. The longitudinal band is wound around the circumferential periphery of the reel and each of the tabs is bent onto the side surface to be attached thereon. The controller is operable to: (a) execute a unit game in which the reel is spun and then stopped, (b) read the identification data by the data reader when the reel has stopped, (c) determine an outcome of the unit game based on the identification data read in (b), and (d) determine whether or not the at least one of the symbols displayed on the display window changes after the reel has stopped based on the identification data detected after the reel has stopped by the data reader.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a reel unit used in a slot machine in an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective exterior view of the slot machine in the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a controller of the slot machine in the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a reel used in the slot machine in the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is an explanatory development view of a reel band used in the slot machine in the embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing an operation of the slot machine in the embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT

In the following, characteristic portions of a slot machine according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described, referring to the appearance illustration of a reel unit shown in FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 1, a reel unit 61 of the slot machine according to the present embodiment has three reels 53 a to 53 c rotatably supported by a base frame 62. Reel bands 59 a to 59 c are affixed on each circumferential periphery of the reels 53 a to 53 c, respectively. Tabs 63 provided along a side edge of each of the reel bands 59 a to 59 c are bended to be attached onto a side surface of each of the reels 53 a to 53 c. In addition, a barcode 55 is drawn on each of the tabs 63, which stores an identification data corresponding to each symbol on the reel bands 59 a to 59 c.

Barcode readers 54 a to 54 c are provided nearby each of the reel bands 59 a to 59 c of the base frame 62, respectively, and each of the barcode readers 54 a to 54 c faces to the barcodes on the tabs 63. When the reels 53 a to 53 c come to a stop, any one of the barcodes 55 is read (detected) by each of the barcode readers 54 a to 54 c. Therefore, in the slot machine of the present embodiment, a symbol position of each of the reels 53 a to 53 c can be recognized when the reels 53 a to 53 c has come to a stop by reading the barcodes provided on the side surface of the reels 53 a to 53 c.

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the slot machine 10 of the present embodiment. The slot machine 10 comprises a cabinet 11 and a top box 12 installed on the cabinet 11. A main door 13, which can be opened and closed, is provided on the front of the cabinet 11. Display windows 58 a to 58 c are provided on the front face of the main door 13. Three left-center-right reels 53 a to 53 c are installed behind the display windows 58 a to 58 c and within the cabinet 11.

A controller 40 (see FIG. 3) for controlling the slot machine 10 electronically is installed within the cabinet 11. Furthermore, various components such as a hopper 44 (see FIG. 3) for controlling reception, storage and payout of coins are also installed within the cabinet 11.

In the present embodiment, medals are used as game media for playing games but the game media is not limited to medals. For example, coins, tokens, electronic money and electronic value information (credits) equivalent thereto may be used as game media for playing games.

A bet count lamp 16 a for displaying the bet amount and a payout count lamp 16 b for displaying the payout amount are provided on the middle left-side portion of the main door 13.

A medal insertion slot 21 and a bill validator 22 are installed on the middle of the main door 13. Medals used for playing games are inserted into the medal insertion slot. The bill validator 22 validates whether or not the inserted bill is legitimate and accepts the legitimate bill. In addition, various operation switches are provided near the medal insertion slot 21 and the bill validator 22.

A cash-out switch 23, a max-bet switch 24, a bet switch 25, a spin/repeat-bet switch 26 and a start switch 27 are provided as the operation switches.

The bet switch 25 is a switch for determining the number of bet credits on a slot game done with the reels 53 a to 53 c. One credit equivalent to one medal is bet per one press of the bet switch 25.

The spin/repeat-bet switch 26 is a switch for betting credits same as the credits that were bet on the previous game by the bet switch 25 and starting spins of the reels 53 a to 53 c. With the spin/repeat-bet switch 26, a bet same as the bet of the previous game can be placed without any change and a next game can be played with the same bet again.

The start switch 27 is a switch for starting a slot game after the bet operation. The slot game with spinning the reels 53 a to 53 c is started when the start switch 27 has been pressed after the medal insertion into the medal insertion slot 21 or the credits bet by the bet switch 25.

The cash-out switch 23 is a switch for cashing out the prized medals. The medals are cashed out from a medal cash-out opening 19 opened on the lower portion of the main door 13. The cashed-out medals are stored on a medal tray 18.

The max-bet switch 24 is a switch for betting maximum credits (for example, credits equivalent to 30 medals) that can be bet on a single game with a single operation.

A lower display 34 is provided on the lower front of the main door 13. Images relating to the game of the slot machine 10 are displayed on the lower display 34. The images may be mascot character images of the slot machine 10. The medal cash-out opening 19 is provided beneath the lower display 34.

An upper display 33 is provided on the front of the top box 12. The upper display panel 33 has a display panel. The number of payout medals corresponding to symbol combinations and so on are displayed on the upper display 33.

The top box 12 is provided with speakers 29. A ticket printer 35, a card reader 36, a data display 37 and a keypad 38 are provided below the upper display panel 33. The ticket printer 35 prints out the barcode ticket 39. The credits, the date, the identification number of the slot machine 10, etc. have been encoded into a barcode data and printed on the barcode ticket 39.

A player can play games with another slot machine using the barcode ticket 39 and exchange the barcode ticket 39 with bills etc. at a specific location in the gaming facility (such as a cashier booth in a casino).

A smart card can be inserted into the card reader 36. The card reader 36 reads data from the smart card and writes data into the same. The smart card is carried by a player. Identification data of the player, the game history data of the player and so on are stored in the smart card.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a controller 40 provided with the slot machine 10 of the present embodiment and various electrical components connected with the controller 40. The controller 40 of the slot machine 10 shown in FIG. 3 is a micro-computer and includes interface circuits 102, an I/O bus 104, a CPU 106, a ROM 108, A RAM 110, a communication interface circuit 111, a random number generator (RNG) 112, a speaker drive circuit 122, a hopper drive circuit 124, a display controller 140, a motor drive circuit 51 and a barcode detecting circuit 52.

The interface circuits 102 are connected with the I/O bus 104. The I/O bus 104 transfers data signals to the CPU106 and the address signals.

The start switch 27 is connected to the interface circuits 102. Power-on signal output from the start switch 27 is converted into a prescribed signal and transferred to the CPU 106 via the I/O bus 104.

Furthermore, the interface circuits 102 are connected with the bet switch 25, the max-bet switch 24, the spin/repeat-bet switch 26 and the cash-out switch 23. The switching signals output from these switches 25, 24, 26, 23 are supplied to the interface circuits 102 and converted into a prescribed signals at the interface circuits 102 to be transferred to the CPU 106 via the I/O bus 104.

In addition, the interface circuits 102 are connected with a medal sensor 43. The medal sensor 43 is a sensor for detecting inserted medals into the medal insertion slot 21 and installed within the medal insertion slot 21. Signals output from the medal sensor 43 are supplied to the interface circuits 102 and converted into a prescribed signals at the interface circuits 102 to be transferred to the CPU 106 via the I/O bus 104.

The ROM 108 storing system programs and the RAM 110 storing various kinds of data are connected to the I/O bus 104. Further, the RNG 112, the communication interface circuit 111, the display controller 140, the hopper drive circuit 124, the speaker drive circuit 122, the motor drive circuit 51 and the barcode detecting circuit 52 are connected to the I/O bus 104.

The CPU 106 reads game execution programs and executes a game with triggering by receiving the game starting operation via the start switch 27. The game execution programs are programs for executing the processing of spinning and then stopping the reels 53 a to 53 c by the motor drive circuit 51.

In other words, the game execution programs are programmed to execute a slot game. In the slot game executed by the game execution programs, the reels 53 a to 53 c are spun and then a payout will be provided in case where symbols constituting a winning combination have been arranged along a prescribed payline based on the stopped symbols on the reels 53 a to 53 c.

The communication interface circuit 111 is connected to a hall sever or the like and transfers a game history of the slot machine 10 and so on to the hall server. In addition, as described below, the communication interface circuit 111 transfers a warning signal to inform an administrator of fraudulent spinning of the reels when the reels 53 a to 53 c are spun by a fraudulent conduct after stopping the spinning of the reels 53 a to 53 c with an end of a slot game. The communication interface circuit 111 also receives various kinds of data transferred from the hall server.

The RNG 112 generates random numbers for determining the stop positions of the reels 53 a to 53 c.

The speaker drive circuit 122 outputs sound data to the speakers 29. More specifically, the CPU 106 reads out the sound data stored in the ROM 108 and transfers the sound data to the speaker drive circuit 122 via the I/O bus 104. As a result, a desired sound effect is output from the speakers 29.

The hopper drive circuit 124 outputs a payout signal to the hopper 44 when a cash-out will be provided. More specifically, the CPU 106 transfers a driving signal to the hopper drive circuit 124 via the I/O bus 104 when a cash-out signal is generated by the cash-out switch 23. As a result, the hopper 44 cashes out medals corresponding to the remaining credits stored in a specific memory area in the RAM 111.

The display controller 140 executes processing for displaying the number of bet on the bet count lamp 16 a and processing for displaying the number of payout on the payout count lamp 16 b.

The motor drive circuit 51 is connected to pulse motors 56 a to 56 c which spin three reels 53 a to 53 c, respectively. The motor drive circuit 51 spins or stops the respective reels 53 a to 53 c by outputting a driving signal or a stopping signal to each of the pulse motors 56 a to 56 c. In other words, a driving signal is output to each of the pulse motors 56 a to 56 c when the start switch 27 has been pressed, and then each of the reels 53 a to 53 c is spun. Each of the pulse motors 56 a to 56 c is stopped after a prescribed period (e.g., five seconds) has passed, and then the spin of respective reels 53 a to 53 c is stopped

The barcodes 55 each of which corresponds to each symbol are located on the side surface of the respective reels 53 a to 53 c (see FIG. 5). In addition, the barcode readers (data readers) 54 a to 54 c for reading barcode data (the identification data) recorded in the barcodes 55 are provided nearby the side surface of the respective reels 53 a to 53 c to be opposed to the barcodes 55, respectively. Each of the barcode readers 54 a to 54 c is connected to the barcode detecting circuit 52.

The barcode detecting circuit 52 determines symbol positions based on the barcodes 55 read by the barcode readers 54 a to 54 c.

In other words, the barcode data recorded in the barcodes 55 located on the side surfaces of the reels 53 a to 53 c are read by the barcode readers 54 a to 54 c when the reels 53 a to 53 c come to a stop after spinning. And then, the barcode detecting circuit 52 determines the symbol positions.

Next, the reel bands 59 a to 59 c wound around the reels 53 a to 53 c will be described. Although the reel 53 a on the left column is described as an example hereinafter, the reels 53 b and 53 c on the middle and right columns are similarly arranged. FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the reel 53 a, the reel band 59 a wound around the reel 53 a and the pulse motor 56 a. In addition, FIG. 5 is a detailed explanatory drawing of the reel band 59 a. FIG. 1 mentioned above is a perspective view illustrating the reel unit 61 having the three reels 53 a to 53 c installed therein.

As shown in FIG. 5, the reel band 59 a is a rectangular tape and has a plurality of symbols drawn thereon such as “7”, “APPLE”, “BELL”, or the like. In addition, the width of the reel band 59 a is wider than that of the circumferential surface of the reel 53 a. Furthermore, plural V-shaped notches are formed equiangularly along one side edge of the reel band 59 a to form the trapezoidal tabs 63. The barcode 55, which contains the barcode data (identification data) corresponding to each symbol on the reel band 59 a, is printed on each of the tabs 63. In other words, each of the bar cords 55 contains the barcode data (identification data) for specifying a corresponding symbol. Here, the scanned direction of each bar cord 55 (arranging direction of bars) is identical to the width direction of the reel band 59 a.

As shown in FIG. 4, a rotation shaft of the pulse motor 56 a is coupled to the center of the reel 53 a. The spinning or stopping of the reel 53 a is controlled by the pulse motor 56 a.

The above-mentioned reel band 59 a is wound around the circumferential periphery of the reel 53 a. Here, the reel band 59 a is wound with both ends joined together to be ring-shaped and fixed onto the reel 53 a. Then, each of the tabs 63 is bent to a right angle to be attached onto the side surface of the reel 53 a. On this occasion, the reel band 59 a is wound around the reel 53 a and the tabs 63 are attached onto the side surface thereof, so that the reel band 59 a will be able to be replaced easily by peeling the tabs 63 apart from the side surface.

As shown in FIG. 1, the reel unit 61 comprises the base frame 62, the pulse motors 56 a to 56 c provided on the base frame 62 and the reels 53 a to 53 c coupled to rotation axes of the pulse motors 56 a to 56 c, respectively. As described above, since the tabs 63 are bent onto the side surface of the reels 53 a to 53 c, the tabs 63 having the barcodes 55 face laterally outward. The barcode readers 54 a to 54 c is located to face the tabs 63 of the reels 53 a to 53 c, respectively.

Therefore, the barcodes 55 on the tabs 63 can be detected by the barcode readers 54 a to 54 c located nearby the side surface of the reels 53 a to 53 c. On this occasion, the scanned direction of each barcord 55 is identical to the radial direction of the reels 53 a to 53 c. The barcode data read by the barcode readers 54 a to 54 c are output to the barcode detecting circuit 52 shown in FIG. 3.

Next, operation of the slot machine according to the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 6 is a flow chart illustrating the operation of the slot machine according to the present embodiment.

First, the CPU 106 accepts a bet placed by a player (step S11). Here, when the player inserts one or more medals to the medal insertion slot 21, or operates the bet switch 25, the max-bet switch 24 or the spin/repeat-bet switch 26, the number of medals or credits that have been bet is counted as a bet number.

The CPU 106 activates the start switch 27 (step S12). As a result, the player can spin the reels 53 a to 53 c by pressing the start switch 27.

The CPU 106 determines whether or not the start switch 27 has been pressed (step S13). If it is determined that the start switch 27 has been pressed, the process proceeds to step S14. If it is determined that the start switch 27 has not been pressed, the process of step S13 is repeated.

The CPU 106 outputs a drive command signal of the reels 53 a to 53 c to the motor drive circuit 51 (step S14). When the drive command signal is supplied, the motor drive circuit 51 supplies electric power to each of the pulse motors 56 a to 56 c to spin reels 53 a to 53 c.

The CPU 106 measures the elapsed time since the reels 53 a to 53 c has started to spin by a timer which has been implemented in the RAM 110 (step S15).

The CPU 106 determines whether or not the elapsed time measured by the timer has reached a prescribed time period (e.g., five seconds) (step S16). If it is determined that the prescribed time has passed, the process proceeds to step S17. If it is determined that the prescribed time has not passed, the process returns to step S15.

The CPU 106 outputs a stop command signal to the motor drive circuit 51. The motor drive circuit 51 stops the pulse motors 56 a to 56 c when it has received the stop command signal (step S17).

The CPU 106 outputs a read command signal for reading the barcodes 55 to the barcode detecting circuit 52 (step S18). When the read command signal is supplied, the barcode detecting circuit 52 reads the barcodes 55 opposed to the barcode readers 54 a to 54 c.

The CPU 106 specifies symbols displayed on the display windows 58 a to 58 c based on the barcode data read by the barcode reader 54 a to 54 c. And then, the CPU 106 determines whether or not a winning combination has been achieve based on the specified symbols and awards a payout according to the winning combination if the winning combination has been achieved (step S19).

For example, five activated lines (horizontally middle, horizontally upper, horizontally lower, diagonally right-upward and diagonally right-downward lines) are defined over the display windows 58 a to 58 c. When symbols composing a winning combination have come to a stop along at least one of these activated lines, a payout according to the winning combination is awarded.

For example, when a combination “bell-bell-bell” has aligned on an activated line, ten medals or ten credits (equivalent to ten medals) are awarded as a payout.

The CPU 106 determines whether or not the stopped state of the reels 53 a to 53 c has changed, based on a detection process of the barcode readers 54 a to 54 c by the barcode detecting circuit 52 (step S20). In other words, the CPU 106 continues reading of the barcode 55 by the barcode readers 54 a to 54 c after the reels 53 a to 53 c have stopped. The CPU 106 determines whether or not any of the reels 53 a to 53 c was spun after the reels 53 a to 53 c have stopped based on the barcode data read by the barcode readers 54 a to 54 c. If it is determined that any of the reels 53 a to 53 c was spun based on this determination, the process proceeds to step S21. If it is determined that none of the reels 53 a to 53 c has spun, the process is finished.

If it is determined that any of the reels 53 a to 53 c has spun, the CPU 106 outputs an alarm signal (step S21). The alarm signal is transmitted to a host computer (not shown) via a communicating interface circuit 111.

In other words, if any of the reels 53 a to 53 c spun for some reason and any of the symbols displayed on the display windows 58 a to 58 c has changed after the determination of the stopped symbols displayed on the display windows 58 a to 58 c, it is detected by the barcode detecting circuit 52 that any of the symbols has changed. Then, the alarm signal is output to notify a staff of the slot machine 10 that any of the symbols has changed. The staff of the slot machine 10 can find out malfunction or fraudulent operation of the slot machine 10 through the notification by the alarm signal.

As described above, in the slot machine 10 according to the present embodiment, the reel bands 59 a to 59 c are wound around the reels 53 a to 53 c and the tabs 63 provided along the side edge of the reel bands 59 a to 59 c are bent onto the side surface of the reels 53 a to. Therefore, since the symbols on the reel bands 59 a to 59 c are detected by reading the barcodes 55 on the tabs 63, the symbol positions can be detected with high accuracy. In addition, the symbol positions can be reliably detected even if misalignment between the reels 53 a to 53 c and the reel bands 59 a to 59 c has been occurred.

Furthermore, since the reading direction of the barcodes 55 is identical to the radial direction of the reels 53 a to 53 c, the barcodes 55 can be detected with a high accuracy even if the tabs 63 has been attached onto the side surface of the reels 53 a to 53 c with flexure.

Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the identification data contained in the barcodes 55 are read by the barcode readers 54 a to 54 c. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Various identification data such as magnetic data may be applied and various data reader may be applied to read the various identification data.

Although embodiments of the present invention have been described as above, they are only presented as specific examples, without particularly limiting the present invention. Specific arrangements of respective units may be changed in design as appropriate. In addition, the effects set forth in the embodiments of the present invention are merely an enumeration of the most preferred effect which occurs from the present invention, and the effects by the present invention is not limited to those set forth in the embodiments of the present invention. 

1. A slot machine with a symbol detection feature, comprising: a cabinet; at least one reel capable of being spun and stopped and having a circumferential periphery and a side surface perpendicular to the circumferential periphery; a base frame installed within the cabinet for supporting the reel rotatably; a reel band having a longitudinal band on which plural symbols are drawn and plural tabs on each of which an identification data corresponding to each of the symbols is recorded, the longitudinal band being wound around the circumferential periphery of the reel and each of the tabs being bent onto the side surface to be attached thereon; a display window provided on a front face of the cabinet for displaying at least one of the symbols; a data reader provided on the base frame with opposing to the tabs on the side surface for reading the identification data; and a controller operable to: (a) execute a unit game in which the reel is spun and then stopped, (b) read the identification data by the data reader when the reel has stopped, and (c) determine an outcome of the unit game based on the identification data read in (b).
 2. The slot machine according to claim 1, wherein the identification data has a data pattern which is recorded and read along a radial direction of the reel.
 3. A slot machine with a symbol detection feature, comprising: a cabinet; at least one reel capable of being spun and stopped and having a circumferential periphery and a side surface perpendicular to the circumferential periphery; a base frame installed within the cabinet for supporting the reel rotatably; a reel band having a longitudinal band on which plural symbols are drawn and plural tabs on each of which an barcode data corresponding to each of the symbols is recorded, the longitudinal band being wound around the circumferential periphery of the reel and each of the tabs being bent onto the side surface to be attached thereon; a display window provided on a front face of the cabinet for displaying at least one of the symbols; a data reader provided on the base frame with opposing to the tabs on the side surface for reading the barcode data; and a controller operable to: (a) execute a unit game in which the reel is spun and then stopped, (b) read the barcode data by the data reader when the reel has stopped, and (c) determine an outcome of the unit game based on the barcode data read in (b).
 4. The slot machine according to claim 3, wherein the barcode data has a data pattern which is recorded and read along a radial direction of the reel.
 5. A slot machine with a symbol detection feature, comprising: a cabinet; at least one reel capable of being spun and stopped and having a circumferential periphery and a side surface perpendicular to the circumferential periphery; a base frame installed within the cabinet for supporting the reel rotatably; a reel band having a longitudinal band on which plural symbols are drawn and plural tabs on each of which an identification data corresponding to each of the symbols is recorded, the longitudinal band being wound around the circumferential periphery of the reel and each of the tabs being bent onto the side surface to be attached thereon; a display window provided on a front face of the cabinet for displaying at least one of the symbols; a data reader provided on the base frame with opposing to the tabs on the side surface for reading the identification data; and a controller operable to: (a) execute a unit game in which the reel is spun and then stopped, (b) read the identification data by the data reader when the reel has stopped, (c) determine an outcome of the unit game based on the identification data read in (b), and (d) determine whether or not the at least one of the symbols displayed on the display window changes after the reel has stopped based on the identification data detected after the reel has stopped by the data reader.
 6. The slot machine according to claim 5, wherein the identification data has a data pattern which is recorded and read along a radial direction of the reel.
 7. The slot machine according to claim 5, wherein the controller is further operable to output an alarm signal when it is determined that the at least one of the symbols changed in (d). 